Starcraft Islander project

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Hey man, I know a guy who has an original 1976 factory windshield available. Shoot me a pm if you are interested and I'll get you connected with him eh.

Wough, I dunno about fabbing up a whole new topside, that seems super drastic!

Thanks!

PM sent

 

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I had the same issue with my Chief's windshield, all of the T bolts and windshield screws were ferrous and rusted out causing a bunch of pitting and corrosion problems for me to overcome. Lots of clean up and little repairs are on your horizon!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Productive day. I got all of the floor removed from the cabin bulkhead to the transom. All foam flotation removed, 70% of which was waterlogged. Used the shop-vac to pick up what the gloves couldn't.
The wood under the front engine mount is in poor shape, and the transom wood is bad enough to replace, so the engine will be pulled for that project.
Stink bugs were found in every nook and cranny by the hundreds, thankfully they were all expired.
Tomorrow will include pressure washing inside and out, and gutting the cabin area if my paying job permits.
Gonna have my favorite marine mechanic advise me about replacing the outdrive with a newer version.
Having a blast so far...I just love this type of project!

 

[classiccat]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Productive day. I got all of the floor removed from the cabin bulkhead to the transom. All foam flotation removed, 70% of which was waterlogged. Used the shop-vac to pick up what the gloves couldn't.
The wood under the front engine mount is in poor shape, and the transom wood is bad enough to replace, so the engine will be pulled for that project.
Stink bugs were found in every nook and cranny by the hundreds, thankfully they were all expired.
Tomorrow will include pressure washing inside and out, and gutting the cabin area if my paying job permits.
Gonna have my favorite marine mechanic advise me about replacing the outdrive with a newer version.
Having a blast so far...I just love this type of project!

great to hear snal! That's what its all about! :thumb:

If there's one thing this winter has been good for, it's killing stinkbugs!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

great to hear snal! That's what its all about! :thumb:

If there's one thing this winter has been good for, it's killing stinkbugs!

Ugly, stinky rascals. We haven't had any show up at home...but the shop has been full of them.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Pressure washing today...if work allows. She needs it bad!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Got a bit of pressure washing done today. She's a bit cleaner than she was, especially on the green parts.
I'm leaning very heavily towards fabing up a whole new topside. I could probably do that in the time that It would take me
to clean up the front cabin window (or what used to be a window.
I can't make the radius bends like the original, and I would use different windows and a glass front hatch, but it would be
the same basic shape as the original....unless I get creative

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Great score on the Islander. Don't be afraid of I/O's, they are not that difficult and I feel they are much more reliable than my past experiences with outboards. Granted the new ones are better but certainly cost way more. Your outdrive looks quite similar to the one I had on my Chief and I am upgrading it to a 90 Alpha 1. It did require me to slightly enlarge the keyhole and the upper mounting bolts had to be raised about an inch but I would much rather have a newer and stronger drive system. Good luck with your project. Will be tagging along.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Great score on the Islander. Don't be afraid of I/O's, they are not that difficult and I feel they are much more reliable than my past experiences with outboards. Granted the new ones are better but certainly cost way more. Your outdrive looks quite similar to the one I had on my Chief and I am upgrading it to a 90 Alpha 1. It did require me to slightly enlarge the keyhole and the upper mounting bolts had to be raised about an inch but I would much rather have a newer and stronger drive system. Good luck with your project. Will be tagging along.

I'm thinking the same thing about the outdrive. My long time marine mechanic buddy will be stopping by Monday or Tuesday to advise me
on that and which T-n-T pump to order.
Just a bit of online research shows a wide gap in pricing for the lifting arms, pumps, ect. I'll wait to see what my guy says and go from there.

 

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I can see another poor old rotten donor glasser suffering the tin hand of fate.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I've herd that killing off glassers for drivelines is actually very satisfying work:becky:

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I can see another poor old rotten donor glasser suffering the tin hand of fate.

LOL! I've already found myself looking in back yards as a drive around. You know there's a donor somewhere.....your job....FIND IT!

 

[bigdirty]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Heck, you might get lucky and find a 454/bravo driveline in an old rotten glass boat.. :lol: that would make it a little harry as the only thing in the water would be the prop.. but hey, move two holes for the alpha, or drill two more for the bravo setup.. not much diff.... and might be fun!

 

[ricohman]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I've herd that killing off glassers for drivelines is actually very satisfying work:becky:

LOL!
I've seen your "satisfying work"!
Good times!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Hmmmm? Found these pics on the net...I like the windowless look better!

 

[Streffpilot]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I say mount up twin Mercury TOP's from the era of your boat.......two 1500's (150 hp each) screaming along would be very sweet.......

From a glasser, outboard StarCraft owner

 

[Streffpilot]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Something like this. Maybe matching years with your boat

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I think universal item about for all boat owners is "You can never have too much horsepower !"

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Eh...I'm not much on max HP for this rig. She'll be mainly for fishing (fun fishing...not tournament). The main reason I bought her (other than the overnight capabilities) was the fact that she's a project...and I always wanted an Islander.
An outboard isn't totally out of the question just yet. Depends on the shape of the engine, which I haven't tested yet.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Got a bit of work done today getting the topside metal ready to pull off. Seems like the more I deal with the topside...the more I lean towards simply going all new.
One thing that seems to be the norm with every aluminum boat restoration that I've ever tackled...they used bolts that are 3x longer than they needed to be everywhere!
My mechanic friend is supposed to stop by tomorrow morning to check out the drivetrain and advise. I think I'll go ahead and pull the engine and outdrive so that I can proceed with the hull/transom rehab.
I can test the engine just as easily on an engine stand as I can with it in the boat.